Page 23 of Tainted Love

Mr Ghurair. Two deals. The firm. These are the things that sense should bring to the front of my mind but all I see is him, us.

‘You’re everything to me, Scarlett. My whole world. Come home with me.’

‘If you remember, I never wanted to be here in the first place.’

He rolls his jaw as he resumes his seat at the table. He’s keeping a lid on his temper and so he should, too; he has no right to be angry in this.

‘I don’t know if I can leave. There are some conversations I’ll need to have.’

He nods. ‘Your firm.’

‘Yes. And of course, thanks to you, I’ll have to deal with Neil Wallace and undo the commitment you made on my behalf. God, imagine what he’ll say. It’s probably a good time to share with you my sincere gratitude for limiting my career progression.’

People don’t stand up to Gregory. I can almost feel him fighting to find a response that isn’t to wipe the floor with me. He takes a breath. ‘You’re a good lawyer, Scarlett. The firm knows that and so does Neil.’

‘Is that what you’d say if it was one of your employees?’

‘No. And I take your point. So… if you want to stay, we’ll make it work. I’ll fly out, be here whenever I can.’

The bloody arse has called my bluff.He might be wearing his poker face but he knows it, too.

‘As it happens, I have actually been thinking about trying to move back to London sooner than planned. But that doesnotget you off the hook. I, erm, I’ve sold my dad’s house.’ I search his face for concern, waiting for the realisation that I’m about to be homeless to hit him, but his lips are straight.

‘I know.’

‘How do you— Jackson?’

‘Yes, and I think what you’re doing for Sandy is incredible.’

The money. ‘Well, it’s no more than she deserves after all the years.’

‘Still, two hundred and fifty thousand pounds when you’re not— It’s extremely generous.’

I shrug. ‘I was hoping she’d use some of it for the wedding. I think she and Jackson are only waiting because of the cost but she won’t use it. I can’t manage to convince her that my dad would be happy for her to use some of it on a wedding. I just want her to be happy.’

‘They aren’tunhappy, Scarlett.’

‘I know. It’s just, there’s something nice about being married, I think. Sandy’s a purist. There’s a commitment behind a marriage.’

‘You don’t have to be married to be committed to someone.’

‘No, of course not, but marriage just feels more definite.’ I wave a lazy hand in the air. ‘Anyway, the house sold sooner than I thought it would. It doesn’t make sense for me to keep it. I’m going to buy an apartment closer to work.’ He watches me without the semblance of a reaction. ‘I was supposed to be out here to complete two deals. The first is around three weeks from completion. The second will be more like the end of March. I’ll have to at least stay to complete the first but I need to clean out the house, so I’m hoping I can convince Mr Ghurair that the second deal can be completed from London and maybe I can just fly out once every week or two.’

I can tell he’s trying to suppress a smile and he does right to keep it hidden.

‘So you’d come home in three weeks?’

‘That’s what I’m hoping, yes.’

‘Three weeks.’ Now his lips curl and my anger wanes because he’s just too damned cute. He tears a bite of pastry from a croissant. ‘Good. But Scarlett, you won’t be getting an apartment in the city. You’ll come home. Toourhome. Where you belong.’

I watch him eat the pastry, his face perfectly serious. And I want to give him some whip-smart retort but what I actually feel and say is, ‘I’d like that.’

He lifts my knuckles to his lips again. ‘Settled then. Three weeks. I’ll keep the suite here. You can stay full-time and I’ll come back whenever I can.’

He’s back to Mr Controlling and for some reason, that makes me significantly happier than seeing him on his knees, for me or anyone. ‘You’re such an arse,’ I tell with a laugh. ‘But I have a room here. The firm pays.’

‘Fine. I’ll pay the upgrade rate. I’m not staying in a pokey little room and I won’t have my girlfriend staying in a pokey little room whilst I’m gone.’